Jaime Sumersille

Latest posts by Jaime

Thanksgiving Day Weekend 2024 on Long Island: Turkey Trots, Light Shows, and Santa

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Tue, 11/26/2024 - 7:48am

Trek to The End for the Montauk Lighthouse tree lighting this weekend. Photo courtesy of the Montauk Lighthouse

Looking for the best things to do on Long Island this Thanksgiving weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for the holiday weekend.

Work up an appetite for your Thanksgiving feast by participating in a family-friendly turkey trot on Thursday morning. Or, get some activity in by driving through the Jones Beach Magic of Lights. For a throwback feel, check out how Christmas was celebrated in 1863 at the Old Bethpage Village Restoration.

Find more seasonal fun in our Long Island Kids Guide to Holiday and Christmas Events!

Best Holiday Lights Drive-Thrus and Christmas Light Shows on Long Island

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Sun, 11/24/2024 - 12:21pm

LuminoCity returns to Long Island's Eisenhower Park. Photo courtesy LuminoCity

For a touch of holiday magic on Long Island, it's hard to beat the glow of a spectacular Christmas lights display or holiday lights drive-thru.

While we really enjoy the immersive walk-through displays across Long Island, such as the Smithtown Historical Society's Holiday Trail of Lights or LuminoCity at Eisenhower Park, sometimes we prefer to grab our hot cocoa and set out on the road. Driving through the Town of Islip Holiday Lights or Jones Beach Magic of Lights Show has become an annual tradition that even my older kids anticipate.

However, this year we also can't wait to catch some new holiday lights attractions. Sayville Falls has transformed into a magical walk-through experience with its Light Show and Winter Garden. Plus, we found out that Clark Botanic Garden is bringing back its FREE Winter Wonderland Walk-Through.

Find all our top picks for holiday fun—including Long Island's best Christmas activities—in our Long Island Christmas Guide.

Jones Beach Magic of Lights and More Things To Do on Long Island this Weekend with Kids

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Fri, 11/22/2024 - 10:07am

Join Santa, Barnaby, Franklynne, and all of their friends as the tale of Barnaby Saves Christmas unfolds on the Theatre Three stage. Photo courtesy of Theatre Three

Looking for the best things to do on Long Island this weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your schedule.

We're full steam ahead toward the holiday celebrations on Long Island and one of our favorite annual traditions—the Jones Beach Magic of Lights Drive-Thru Show—opens this weekend and features an animal display this year!

Sayville Falls debuts a new holiday attraction we can't wait to check out, transforming its mini-golf course into a Holiday Light Show and Winter Garden, complete with igloos.

Theater is in full swing as well, with Frosty at The Engeman Theater and Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus at the Staller Center for the Arts.

Read on for more great events across LI this weekend.

Breakfast with Santa on Long Island

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Fri, 11/15/2024 - 9:10am

Santa is hanging at the Milleridge Inn this December. Photo courtesy of Milleridge Inn

Breakfast with Santa is a great way to celebrate the holiday season, and several Long Island venues are serving up the opportunity to hang with St. Nick over pancakes and eggs.

These events allow the whole family to fill their tummies while enjoying a festive atmosphere. Kids can sit on Santa's lap, whisper toy requests in his ear, and snap a photo with the jolly old fellow himself. Be sure to snag reservations early, because some of these Long Island Santa stops fill up fast!

Find all our top picks for holiday fun–including Long Island's best Christmas activities–in our Long Island Christmas Guide. And check out our constantly updated Family Activity Calendar for even more fun things to do.

Test Your Luck at Long Island's First Claw Arcade

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Mon, 11/11/2024 - 6:10am

ClawCADE features more than 70 claw machines and is located inside the Roosevelt Field Mall.

Long Island's first claw machine arcade, ClawCADE, is a new addition to Roosevelt Field Mall. My family recently visited, had a blast, and walked away with quite the prize haul!

Read on for all the details about this new venue and gaming craze. If you're looking for more indoor fun, check out our roundup of Long Island's Best Family Fun Centers.

The Nutcracker Ballet and Other Holiday Shows for Kids on Long Island

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Sun, 11/10/2024 - 7:18am

Eglevsky Ballet presents special performances of the timeless holiday classic "The Nutcracker." Photo courtesy of the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts

If your child is nuts about The Nutcracker, several top-notch companies perform the holiday favorite right here on Long Island, so ring in the holiday season by taking in a theatrical performance or two. Some of the standout shows this year include the New York Dance Theatre's staging at Hofstra, which features a cast of 80 children. Ballet Long Island's staging, meanwhile, includes select performances of only Act II of the ballet, and the abbreviated runtime is helpful if your kiddos sometimes get squirmy in their seats.

You can also check out some other great holiday-themed shows hitting Long Island stages this season, like The Happy Elf and Frosty.

Read on for amazing holiday show options for families on Long Island in 2024. And be sure to check out our events calendar and Holiday Guide for more seasonal family fun.

25 Must-Do Christmas Events and Holiday Activities on Long Island

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Fri, 11/08/2024 - 12:05pm

LuminoCity returns to Long Island for its fifth year at Eisenhower Park. Photo by Jaime Sumersille

Looking for the best holiday activities and Christmas events on Long Island for kids? Read on for our top picks.

We've rounded up dozens of family-friendly holiday activities worth adding to your calendar this season, including lantern shows, drive-thru light shows, and more.

Walking through the annual LuminoCity and driving through the Jones Beach Light Show attractions are always highlights of this season. There's something about the warm, bright lights that puts me in a ho-ho-holiday mood.

Of course we also love the freebies too, like the Animated Story at Hicks Nurseries and Huntington Holiday Spectatular. These are are must-visit for us.

We've got plenty more ways to make seasonal memories in our Long Island Guide to Holiday Fun.

Veterans Day Weekend 2024 on Long Island: Best Things To Do with Kids

Submitted by Jaime Sumersille on Fri, 11/08/2024 - 10:14am

Ring in the season at the holiday festival and tree lighting at Tanger Outlets in Deer Park. Photo courtesy of Tanger Outlets

Looking for the best things to do on Long Island this Veterans Day weekend? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list.

Veterans Day falls on Monday this year, and there are plenty of things to do on Long Island with kids that day, including kicking off the holiday season at the Annual Holiday Festival & Tree Lighting at Tanger Outlets in Deer Park, where you can take pics with Santa and hang out with some live reindeer.

Other top things to do this weekend include enjoying a holiday lights experience at LuminoCity, which returns to Long Island's Eisenhower Park with a new luminescent theme, and getting cozy with some furry farm animals during Patchogue's annual free Walk-Through Zoo.

Of course, it's not too early to start plotting your holiday outings with our list of 25 must-do Christmas and holiday activities on Long Island.